Here are some of the biggest UTEP headlines that you may have missed during your summer vacation:
Recent UTEP Graduate Launches Awayys, a New Travel App
Doris Llamas, who graduated from UTEP with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems in May 2016, recently launched Awayys, a social-media powered app to help people traveling connect with others to explore together.
“I discovered a big gap between the social networking and travel industry and I decided to fill it,” Llamas said. “It is incredible for travelers, especially students, but it is also extremely useful for corporate travelers of all ages.”
Click here to read more about Llamas’ app.
UT System Regents Honor 7 UTEP Faculty with Outstanding Teaching Award
The University of Texas System Board of Regents will recognize seven UTEP faculty members for their extraordinary performance and innovative instruction in the classroom with the highly prestigious 2016 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award.
“I’m delighted that the UT System Board of Regents has once again honored several UTEP faculty members for their excellent teaching,” said Howard C. Daudistel, Ph.D., interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.
To see which faculty members are honored, click here.
UTEP Names New Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations
Maribel Villalva has been named assistant vice president for alumni relations at UTEP. Villalva has been director of UTEP’s Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens since 2013. In addition, she served as executive director of the University’s Centennial Celebration.
“Maribel Villalva’s contributions to the University have been extensive and impactful,” UTEP President Diana Natalicio said. “We are very pleased to be able to bring her community-building experience to Alumni Relations.”
To read more about Villalva, click here.
UTEP Professor Named Inventor of the Year by State Bar of Texas
Marc Cox, Ph.D., associate professor in UTEP’s Department of Biological Sciences, has been selected as the 2016 Texas Inventor of the Year for his breast and prostate treatments, which he developed at UTEP.
“Dr. Cox’s research has resulted in an entirely new class of drugs that bypass the hormone sensors all together and instead block internal messages within cancer cells, so the cancer acts as if its hormone sensors are ‘off’ and does not grow,” said Michelle Lecointe, chair of last year’s Inventor of the Year committee.
Cox is the first awardee from a university and was honored during the Annual Meeting of the State Bar of Texas in Fort Worth on June 17, 2016.
Click here to read more about Cox’s research.
UTEP Announces Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Program
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved a new Ph.D. program in mechanical engineering at UTEP.
The doctoral program will have an emphasis on energy, aerospace and advanced manufacturing, areas which have a strong record of success for the Department of Mechanical Engineering, which is part of UTEP’s College of Engineering. The new program brings the total number of doctoral degrees offered by UTEP to 21, along with 72 bachelor’s and 73 master’s programs.